Private First Class Joe Mann was serving in Holland in 1944. His platoon was surrounded and cut off by enemy forces. Pfc. Mann crept to within rocked-launcher range of an enemy artillery position and destroyed the 88 mm gun and an ammunition dump. Wounded multiple times himself, he remained in position with his M-1 killing off remaining enemy troops. Afterward, despite four injuries, Pfc. Mann insisted on standing guard in a forward location. That morning the enemy counter-attacked. Mann saw a hand grenade land nearby. Unable to raise his arms due to injuries, he yelled, "Grenade!" and threw his body on the grenade. He died from his wounds, but saved and inspired his comrades.First Lieutenant Harry Martin served with the 5th Marine Division in Iwo Jima in March, 1945. He defied hostile fire to rescue several of his men trapped in positions overrun by the enemy. He was wounded severely twice, but located his men and directed them to safety, staying to defend their retreat. When the enemy took up an abandoned machine gun pit, he charged and killed its occupants. With the few remaining men with him, he led a charge into the hostile position, scattering them and dying from a grenade. Because of his bravery and sacrifice, Lt. Martin permanently disrupted a Japanese attack and saved multiple lives.
Private Joe Martinez was on Attu in the Aleutians in May of 1943. The Army had been trying to take a key mountain pass but failed repeatedly. Finally, a reinforced attack was launched, but faltered in the face of severe hostile fire. Pvt. Martinez stood and resumed the advance alone. As he urged others to follow, he attacked enemy positions with his BAR and grenades, clearing out a spot 150 feet below the pass. Knowing the enemy held flanking and entrenched positions around the pass, Pvt. Martinez pressed on with his BAR until he encountered the final trench where he died eliminating the last of the enemy. His sacrifice produced the end of the Japanese defense of the island.
Last year President Obama posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Captain Emil J. Kapaun. Capt. Kapaun was a chaplain serving in Korea. In the Battle of Unsan his battalion was surrounded by Chinese forces. Kapaun ignored the enemy fire to go from foxhole to foxhole and encourage his men. He would recover wounded men and drag them to safety or dig shallow trenches to protect them. He could have left but stayed behind to care for the wounded and was captured by the Chinese on Nov. 2, 1950. He refused to take breaks from carrying stretchers of wounded and encouraged others to do their part. In the prison camp, he risked his life sneaking round the camp to care for the sick or provide foraged food or encourage his fellow soldiers. Despite repeated punishments, he continued to serve his fellow prisoners, even conducting a sunrise Easter service in 1951. The harsh conditions and treatment took its toll on Capt. Kaupan. As he was being carried to the hospital, dying, he asked God to forgive his captors. Capt. Kapaun died in that prison camp in May of 1951, but his constant courage and service saved multiple lives and aided to sustain their faith in God and country.
Jesus told us, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). In our Memorial Day celebration we have the opportunity to honor that love.
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